What's for dinner tonight? For many Pocono families, it's pizza

Who knew? It turns out that the day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for pizzerias.

CHAD SMITH

Who knew?

It turns out that the day before Thanksgiving is one of the busiest days of the year for pizzerias.

Those busy cooking Thanksgiving eve just want something quick and easy to eat — so they order a pizza, according to Pocono pizza shop employees and owners. Many have lots of family members in town for the holiday, and pizza is often the fastest and cheapest way to feed all those mouths on Turkey Day eve.

"I get destroyed here on the night before Thanksgiving — it's that busy," said Michael Cavallaro, manager of Brother Bruno's Pizza in Lords Valley. "It's probably one of the busiest days of year."

That there is a major uptick in business the day before Thanksgiving may not seem to make that much sense, but tell that to those kneading the dough and working in the kitchen.

"People are busy cooking, they have lots of chores to do. So on the night before the big day, they want simplicity, they want convenience. They get pizza," said John Grando, owner of Venuto's Old World Pizza, in Stroudsburg.

Also, many who have moved away from an area often return to it for Thanksgiving.

"And what says home more than going to the pizza place that's in the neighborhood where you grew up?" said Angela Crupi, co-owner of and cook at Tony's Restaurant and Pizzeria in East Stroudsburg. "And you know the best pizza is the pizza you used to eat and the pizzeria in the place where you grew up."

The busiest day of the year for pizzerias is Super Bowl Sunday, according to Michelle McAnally, food editor at PMQ Pizza Magazine, a trade publication.

But Domino's Pizza on Tuesday released a statement saying that the night before Thanksgiving, while not the busiest day of the year for pizza deliveries, was among the top three. Many people also order pizza on Halloween. Domino's also expects Cyber Monday to set pizza-delivery records this year, as it did last year.

In order to function effectively on Thanksgiving eve, some pizza places like Mike's Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant in Effort ask more of their experienced employees to work the day.

And do people strictly order pizza on the day before Thanksgiving?

"You know, crazy as it may seem, but a lot of people actually order turkey sandwiches on the day before Thanksgiving. Maybe they just want to stay with the whole turkey theme," Crupi said.